Music, Movement and Meaning
storytelling doctors, Arts in Health Intensive scholarships, calls for artists and more...
Hi all,
Martha Spak is a Washington, DC–based artist who made the painting in the photograph above. It is part of her Geo Chroma series—featured in major medical institutions—which invites viewers to pause and reconnect with beauty, offering moments of peace to patients, caregivers, and staff alike. Martha is also an artist-in-residence with The Georgetown Lombardi Arts and Humanities Program. You can read more about Martha’s work below.
This issue also highlights storytelling doctors, recent research showing dance's cognitive and emotional benefits, as well as initiatives like hospital art exhibits and arts-based programs for older adults. Explore opportunities like scholarships for the 2025 Arts in Health Intensive, calls for artists, job opportunities, funding announcements and upcoming events focused on public health and creativity.
News 📰
✍️ In her article for the New Yorker magazine, Danielle Ofri explores doctors as writers who have long bridged the gap between clinical practice and storytelling. In it she shares the doctor-authored books that shaped her medical career.
℞ In this interview with CNN, Julia Hotz, journalist and author of “The Connection Cure,” discusses how “social prescribing”—referring patients to community activities instead of just medications—can improve both individual health and community well-being. She highlights the healing power of movement, nature, art, service, and belonging, showing how these connections support mental and physical health.
💃 This article in El Pais highlights dancing’s physical and mental health benefits, including improved heart health, stress reduction, and enhanced mood and relationships. It points to a recent meta-analysis that found dance is just as effective as traditional exercise for boosting psychological and cognitive outcomes. Notably, dance may even outperform exercise in motivation and long-term adherence.
🖼️ This article describes a new initiative by Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center to integrate the arts into healthcare spaces. The exhibit, titled “A Slice of Life: The Art of Everyday,” encourages reflection and provides a moment of hope for patients, visitors, and staff.
🎥 This article discusses a new documentary called “How to Care.” The film focuses on Dan Stallsworth, a 75-year-old artist living with cerebral palsy, who paints five days a week. The film presents both the challenges and joys of caregiving and highlights the meaningful relationships between Dan and his caregivers.
🎶 This Washington Post article explores how creating music can still be beneficial even if we’re not particularly skilled. Research consistently shows that music can calm the mind, support brain health, and strengthen social connections.
🎥 A PBS North Carolina segment highlights how the Creative Aging Network is using the arts to address loneliness among older adults. Through "arts on prescription," healthcare providers are connecting seniors with painting, crafts, and cultural experiences.
Research 🔬
🧠 A new report examines the economic value of music engagement for people with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers. Analyzing two weekly 30-minute music sessions over a year, the study found measurable benefits to both personal well-being and the healthcare system.
🎶 New research published in Frontiers in Psychology reveals that many music-based health interventions are poorly reported, which makes it difficult for others to replicate or build on them. To address this, updated reporting guidelines outline 12 essential elements to help practitioners clearly document their work..
👥 A new integrative review examines global research on the connections between arts participation, social cohesion, and well-being—highlighting how collective creative experiences can build stronger communities and improve health. The review analyzes 18 studies from 12 different countries.
Education 🎓
🎓 The University of Florida’s Center for Arts in Medicine offers online graduate programs that prepare students from diverse fields to become credentialed professionals in arts in health. Through a Master’s Degree or Graduate Certificate, students gain expertise in best practices and research to create impact in healthcare, public health, education, and community settings. Applications are due July 1st, 2025.
📓 Scholarships are available to help cover registration for the 2025 Arts in Health Intensive, taking place September 2–4 in Gainesville, FL. Apply by July 20. Open to all experience levels, this event features workshops, creative sessions, and networking led by experts in the Arts in Health field, exploring how the arts support health and well-being.
🖼️ This course trains healthcare professionals to use Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) in clinical, educational, and organizational settings to enhance observation, communication, and empathy. Participants who complete the course and demonstrate facilitation proficiency can earn VTS@Work® certification. Discounted pricing is available through July 1, 2025.
Events 📆
🤝 Creating Healthy Communities: Arts in Public Health Convening will take place October 14–16, 2025, in Newark, NJ, presented by the University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine and NJPAC. This event brings together artists, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to explore how arts and culture can help shape a healthier future. Topics include emerging themes in public health, community development, and a focused look at arts prescribing in the U.S.; early bird and group discounts are available through July 18.
📍 Join A2ru on June 30 at 2:30 Eastern / 11:30 Pacific for Mapping Creative Futures: A Community Conversation, a free virtual event open to all. Hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the session will explore current challenges in the arts and higher education, including funding shifts and evolving work conditions. Participants are invited to share ideas, build connections, and collaborate on navigating the future together.
🎶 Smithsonian Folkways artist Julian Saporiti, known as No-No Boy, is in residence at the University of Florida this August, transforming research into music. His free lectures, panels, and performances highlight how songwriting can convey complex stories, from Asian American experiences to environmental issues.
🎶 NYC Health + Hospitals recently announced its summer Music for the Soul concert series. In partnership with Sing for Hope, the program offers free live performances for the public, patients, and staff at its hospitals.
🎥 Now in its 9th season, Project UnLonely Films offers nearly 150 short films that explore loneliness and the creative ways people find connection. Season 9 is available for free and can be viewed instantly. Whether for personal reflection or use in classrooms, workplaces, or community settings, these films are designed to spark meaningful conversations.
℞ The updated paperback edition of Julia Hotz’s book “The Connection Cure” launched on June 17. It’s the first book to explore the science, stories, and global spread of social prescribing. To celebrate, she is embarking on a tour with stops in locations like the Adirondacks, New York, Seattle, Boston, Orlando, and more, including virtual events.
Opportunities 🌱
🎭 The Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, Florida is hiring an Arts and Wellness Clinical Manager who will oversee all Arts and Wellness programs and serve as the main liaison to healthcare partners. The manager will guide staff and partners, support strategic planning, and help lead the Center’s overall Arts and Wellness vision.
🖼️ Two new Calls for Artists are now open for the Regan Unit at Eleanor Slater Hospital Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. The first is a comprehensive interior artwork plan. The second is an exterior courtyard mural. Artists with experience in hospitals, healthcare, arts in health, or psychiatric settings are especially encouraged to apply. The application deadline is July 11.
👥 Southbank Centre is hiring a full-time, permanent Head of Arts & Wellbeing. The role involves leading the design and delivery of community-based arts initiatives that support young people’s mental health and requires close collaboration with artists, creatives, health professionals, and community partners.
🏥 Nicklaus Children's Health System in Miami, FL is seeking a Healing Arts Specialist to coordinate artist residency and Arts in Place programs as part of their Arts in Healing Initiative. The role supports children and healthcare providers in coping with the emotional challenges of illness through collaborative visual and performing arts experiences with professional artists. Responsibilities include implementing program plans, coordinating exhibitions, recruiting and training artists, liaising with community partners, and potentially supervising volunteers.
👥 South Arts is supporting projects focused on health and wellness through the arts, offering matching grants of up to $15,000 for approximately 18 initiatives. Grantees must commit to a three-year collaboration. Letter of Interest deadline: Wednesday, July 30, 2025.
📚 The Anthem Studies in Narrative and Health Humanities book series welcomes submissions from both emerging and established scholars. All titles are peer-reviewed and published in both print and digital formats exploring key topics such as narrative-based clinical practice, narrative ethics, and literature in medical education, with a focus on fostering meaningful change through inclusive and innovative scholarship. end to danielle.spencer@columbia.edu.
℞ Frontiers has a call for submissions on a new research topic focused on social prescribing and evidence-based public health policy. They are seeking article submissions exploring the impact and implementation of social prescribing in public health. The deadline to submit a manuscript summary is August 14, 2025.
Resources 🧰
🎨 California for the Arts' “Introduction Guide to Arts & Health” offers a comprehensive overview of the arts and health field. The guide features a collection of resources, including program examples, research, and additional materials. You can download the guide and watch the accompanying webinar to learn more.
Featured Artist 🎨
Martha Spak is an artist and creative entrepreneur based in Washington, DC, whose work bridges the fields of fine art and healing. Known for her ethereal landscapes and serene abstracts, Martha creates art that fosters calm, reflection, and joy—qualities especially resonant in healthcare environments. Her Geo Chroma series, which explores the emotional impact of color, has been exhibited at leading medical institutions including the NIH Clinical Center, University of Michigan Medical Center, and Georgetown University Lombardi Cancer Center. Through these installations, she invites patients, caregivers, and medical staff to pause, breathe, and reconnect with beauty. Martha’s art is also featured in national publications and home décor lines, and her original works are held in public and private collections across the country. She says, “I create paintings and sculptures that spark joy and offer moments of peace—especially where they’re needed most.”
Lots here to explore! Thank you...